Inca rope bridge

The suspension bridge Qu'eswachaka is a 28 meter long and 1,20 meters wide cable-stayed bridge in Peru. It consists entirely of woven grass and spans the Rio Apurimac. The bridge allows several hundred residents of the area to cross the river. The bridge will be built each year in June and is in this form since about 500 years. Annually come to construction about 700 people in the area ( the Andean villages Huinchiri, Quehue, Choccayhua, Ccolana and Chaupibanda ) together. The women weave the ropes this from Ichu grass ( Jarava ichu ), the men tie the ropes to the bridge. After the completion of this bridge is consecrated by shamans and it is organized a celebration. The bridge is considered as the last functioning suspension bridge in the Inka and in 2009 from the National Institute of Culture of Peru (INC ) declared a National Heritage Site.

In addition, (as of June 2010) is worked out by Peruvian authorities on an application for the inclusion of the bridge in the world heritage list of UNESCO.

Film

• The bridge made ​​of grass, documentary commissioned by the SDR, 45 Minutes, 1979